Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice collection of German WWII Awards and other items, which was brought back from the European theater by a USGI after the war was concluded. Many solders traded these on the way back, and would end up with a pocket full of various different collectible items, and this set represents the typical "haul" one might have come back with. It includes SIX different WWII awards, in addition to a tinnie and some insignia.

This lovely set includes:

- One German WWII War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II Klasse mit Schwertern) with ribbon. The medal still retains the bronze wash very well, which has matured to a lovely dark patina. The original ribbon is installed through the brass hanger ring, and has just a bit of age toning, though it is glued together at the top.

- One German WWII War Merit Cross 2nd Class (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II Klasse) with ribbon. The medal is the version without swords, issued for service not connected to combat. The original bronze wash is in great shape with a lovely lightly oxidized color, and the ribbon is in great shape, correctly installed inside the hanger ring.

- One German WWII Eastern Front Medal (Ostmedaille), complete with ribbon. The medal is in very good condition, though the silver border and helmet have lost their silvering, so it now displays an overall gray oxide color. The hanger loop is marked with Präsidialkanzlei des Führers Lieferant (Presidential Chancellery Supplier) number 7 on the hanger ring, for maker Paul Meybauer of Berlin. The ribbon is still in great shape, installed correctly through the hanger ring.

- One German WWII Western Wall / Siegfried Line Metal with Ribbon. The award has a lovely patina on the brass medal, and the ribbon has a great lightly stained look, with some fraying around the hanger ring. Definitely looks to have seen a good amount of service.

- One German WWII DRL Bronze Grade Sports Badge. In very good condition with a lovely patina. The retaining hook for the pinback has broken off.

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine Minesweeper War Badge. This still has much of the silver wash on the "splash", and the gold wash on the wreath is well retained as well. The back is marked with R.K., for Rudolf Karneth of Gablonz, which today is Jablonec nad Nisou in the Czech Republic. During WWII it was considered part of the "Sudetenland", and after the war most of the German population was expelled. The back has an intact catch and hinge, however the pin and securing pin are missing.

- One German WWII NSRL/DRL Bevo Embroidered Bronze Sports Badge. The design is a round badge with a golden "closed wing" eagle in the middle, surmounted with a Swas. These were awarded in bronze and silver grades, and later examples also had a date.

- One German WWII 1 MAI 1937 Tinnie. These celebrated May Day / Labor Day in NSDAP germany.

- One German Pre-WWII Soldatenbund Soldier's League Veterans Association Silver Stickpin.

A wonderful totally genuine grouping perfect for the German Medal and Insignia collector. Ready to research and display!

More information on some of the awards in this set:

"Tinnies" (Veranstaltungsabzeichen - Event Badges) are small commemorative pins or medals, acquired when one attended a specific event held in Germany. They were often made of thin stamped metal, bakelite, or even pressed paper. Many of these were given out as part of the WHW (Winterhilfswerk - Winter Help Work) Organization, which often involved Germans traveling quite a bit to help out the war effort. Many others were given for the annual Reichsparteitag (Reich Party Congress), otherwise known as the Nuremberg Rallies.

War Merit Cross 2nd Class (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) with Swords (for Combat)
This was a decoration of NSDAP Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to military personnel and civilians alike. By the end of the war it was issued in four degrees, and had a related civil decoration. It was created by Adolf AH in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars. The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service "not in direct connection with combat", and without swords for meritorious service to civilians in "furtherance of the war effort". As with the Iron Cross, Recipients had to have the lower grade of the award before getting the next level.

The Eastern Medal (Ostmedaille), officially the Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal (Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42), was a military award of the Wehrmacht which was created by ordinance of Adolf H on 26 May 1942.

The Eastern Medal was awarded to any member of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS "in recognition of experience in the struggle against the Bolshevik enemy and the Russian winter within the period from 15 November 1941 to 15 April 1942." It was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within the Soviet Union. It was wryly called the Frozen Meat Medal or the "Order of the Frozen Flesh" (Gefrierfleischorden).

The West Wall Medal (Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen) was a decoration of NSDAP Germany. It was instituted on 2 August 1939 and was given to those who designed and built the fortifications on Germany's western borders, known as the Westwall or, in English, the Siegfried Line, between 15 June 1938 to 31 March 1939. On 13 November 1939 eligibility was extended to include servicemen of the Wehrmacht who served on the Westwall for at least ten weeks. In all 622,064 medals were awarded until 31 January 1941, when awards of the medal ceased. This early version was made of solid bronze. The back has the statement FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS - "For Work to Protect Germany."

The German Sports Badge, also known as the "German National Sports Badge" was first created in the year 1913 and is one of the oldest awards of Germany still in active circulation. The badge has an oak leaf wreath around the overlapping letters DRA, standing for Deutscher Reichsausschuss für Leibesübungen (German National Committee for Physical Education). At first the German Sports Badge was only issued to men for the completion of various physical tests. In 1921 it was renamed to Deutsches Turn- und Sportabzeichen and women were eligible as well.

After the NSDAP takeover in 1933, the design of the badge remained basically the same but a swas was added at its base. Since 1935, the letters "DRL" (Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen) replaced the letters "DRA". On 1 July 1937 the award was renamed to Deutsche Reichsauszeichnung für Leibesübungen and obtained the status as an official recognised decoration of the state. In 1938, the Austrian Sports Badge was incorporated in the German Sports badge. The last tests for the Deutsche Reichsauszeichnung für Leibesübungen were held in 1944.